During the period between late 2005 and early 2006 eight like minded friends, all of whom had worked and lived in South East Asia for a number of years, visited Cambodia. All were stuck by the beauty of the country and how wonderful the Cambodia people, both young and old, were.
However it was also impossible not be struck by the devastating impact of the tragic events of the Pol Pot, Khmer Rouge regime which could still clearly be seen across the country, through the levels of poverty, the lack of any real breadth and depth of professional skills (so many doctors, nurses, teachers, and other professionals were killed during the regime) as well as on the faces of many of the people even after so many years have passed.
These early visits led to further visits. Walking through the street, talking to local people, visiting a number of NGO’s (Non Governmental Organisations / Charities) and orphanages it was clear to all these friends, all of whom became the founding Trustees of the ISF, that there was a desperate need for help and the opportunity to make a real, tangible and meaningful difference to the lives of literally hundreds and then thousands of children.
Very quickly the Trustees agreed that the focus of their actions would be centred around two core programmes, an educational programme and a football coaching programme, as each could and would have a profound and significant impact on the lives of many children but in very different ways.
The Education programme initially started with two Khmer teachers teaching basic English to about 20 children who had had no previous formal education and who had spent their time begging and collecting garbage to help provide for their families. The centre, operating at first from one room, and then two houses in Boeng Salang was initially funded entirely by the Trustees personally. In 2007 an additional centre was set up in the Stung Meanchay district of Phnom Penh as it was recognised that many of the children came from this area and this was the area of greatest deprivation and need. At this stage approximately 80 children were attending the two centres and the curriculum had been expanded to cover, Khmer reading and writing, maths, some English and drama. In addition, a free lunch and all books were being provided and the families of the children were given a monthly food parcel to compensate them for the loss of earnings from the children. The food parcels were a critical component and ensured the attendance rate was excellent.
2008 and 2009 saw further significant growth in the size and robustness of the programme subsequent to two transformational events occurring, the recruitment of an exceptionally talented and committed full time Country Manager, Kate Griffin, and the finding of an excellent new building which met all the charity’s needs both current and future. By 2009 there were over 160 children attending the two centres or being sponsored though the state system by the ISF.
The change that has been seen in these children has been nothing short of miraculous. When the first children arrived in 2006 they had had no formal education, all had been working for a number of years even though they were less than 13 years old, they were all malnourished, had multiple minor ailments and injuries and lacked any real self confidence. All have now progressed significantly in their educational understanding, their health and complexion have improved significantly, none of them now have to work and they have all become confident young people. The children have also now enjoyed their childhoods in a way that would have previously been inconceivable
During 2006 the Football Coaching Programme was developed alongside the Education Programme as it was recognised that children, no matter how disadvantaged, required not only a decent education but also the opportunity to enjoy themselves and develop other life skills. After various discussions with existing NGO’s and orphanages and, as a number of the Trustees were keen sportsmen, a football coaching programme seemed the obvious choice as involvement in a team sport would provide the children with multiple benefits, teamwork and leadership skills, fitness, emphasis of the importance of discipline and the building of self confidence whilst having fun.
The ISF football coaching activities started with a partnership with one orphanage in Kandal province, The Sunrise Children’s Village , but the ISF quickly built relationships with additional NGO’s including KDFO , HAGAR, Sunrise Children’s Village, ASPECA, Pour Un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) and provided coaching activities for them all . Through its partnership with the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) the ISF had access to professional coaches on a part time basis and through individual and corporate sponsorship of each new team the programme grew fast. In March 2007 the first ever (we can’t claim the first ever boys tournament, this will cause problems with the FFC and it’s not true!) U14 boys football tournament in Cambodia was organised by the ISF at the Old Olympic Stadium and sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Coca Cola. With 250 children participating and another 500 hundred children spectating it was an amazing success with the sound of children’s laughter and cheering reverberating around the stadium. An event all the children will never forget. Since then the U14 boys tournament has become an annual event and in 2009 the first girls Football Tournament of its kind in Cambodia was organised by the ISF on the weekend before the boys tournament.
This programme has again continued to expand significantly and a very strong partnership with the Sports and Leadership Training (SALT) organisation in Battambang has meant that grass roots football is now spreading across Cambodia with the ongoing support and involvement of the Football Federation of Cambodia. By the end of 2009 the partnership between the ISF, SALT and the FFC meant that over 2,500 boys and girls across Phnom Penh, Kandal and Battambang were enjoying and benefitting from weekly football training sessions.